BEAUJOLAIS & BURGUNDY ONLINE TASTING
Beaujolais Nouveau day is a great excuse to try the quality versions of this under-rated food-friendly wine. It’s a matter of contention whether Beaujolais is part of the Burgundy region or not – so a fun idea is to taste a bottle of Pinot Noir red Burgundy side-by-side with the Gamay, and decide for ourselves if these are neighbouring regions, or part of the same vignoble.
1) Beaujolais Nouveau
Beaujolais Nouveau, or Beaujolais Villages Nouveau – 2020 vintage, of course
Subjects to cover: The location of Beaujolais / Primeurs / The grape varieties / BN flavours (banana, grape, strawberry, fig and pear drop?) / The story of Georges Duboeuf and the Nouveau race
2) A Beaujolais Cru
Choose one from one of the 10 certified villages:
Brouilly, Côte de Brouilly, Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent, Chenas, Chiroubles, Régnié, Fleurie, Saint-Amour or Juliénas (and breathe).
Subjects to cover:
The quality triangle / Gamay (in France and elsewhere) / Carbonic maceration / Food pairings / The different village wine profiles / Weather and the vintage chart
3) Any red AOC Burgundy
Choose one the following examples:
Mercurey, AOC Bourgogne, AOC Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, red AOC Rully, Domaine Romanée-Conti 2005…
Subjects to cover:
The continental climate / Burgundy and the soil change / Pinot Noir vs Gamay / The Burgundy quality triangle / Food pairings / Dr Lavallé
